Say hello to health: Millet Mela in Bangalore

Millet Mela is being held in Bangalore on 5th and 6th of February. Millets are rich in phytochemicals, which lower cholesterol, reduce cancer risk and are effective in preventing/managing lifestyle diseases.

Millet Mela in Bangalore this February. Photograph: Google

You can relive your nostalgic association with millets, which once held pride of place in dietary as well as cultural practices across the State, during the Millet Mela here. All varieties of major and minor millets will be displayed along with processed grains during the two-day mela starting from Saturday. Around 35 millet growers' groups from 11 States will participate.

To the delight of gastronomists, recipes and value-added products would be made available along with the awareness material. Some of the well-known millets grown in Karnataka such as navane (foxtail millet), saave (little millet), arka (kodo millet), barugu (barnyard millet), koralu (proso millet), ragi (finer millet), sajje (pearl millet) and jowar will be sold during the mela.

The organisers said millet spinoffs such as malt, biscuits, baby food, and ready-to-eat products developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, will be available. Awareness programmes by dieticians and food technologists will underscore the importance of millets in one's daily diet. Millets such as small millet or foxtail millet, sorghum, represent a biodiverse farming system, and they are cultivated along with several other pulses, oilseeds and spice crops. Millets are C4 carbon-fixing crops and are critical to tackle climate crisis.

Millet, the miracle grain, occupies an important place in the food culture and rituals of the people of Karnataka. It is also known as poor man's crop because it is used as staple food when rice becomes scarce for marginalized families, a press note said. Millets are used as drinks, porridge, snacks and other supplementary food. Besides their importance in the indigenous diet, their cultivation occupies a significant place in the cultural calendar of people in Karnataka.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Millet Mela will be held at the Gandhi Bhavan, between 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Call 9731275656, 9900653364 for details.

the exhibition was knowledgeable and gave more insight about the product. i have been using broken wheat for long and now we are adding millet too in large quantity. i would be happy and appreciate to be informed about the availability of the product like mixed millet for cooking like dhalia, and flakes and flour made of it . thank you, prasanna